A Comprehensive Review of Approaches for Characterizing Natural Fractures in the Ahnet Basin, Algeria

Year 2023, Volume: 5 Issue: 3, 389 - 397, 31.12.2024

Chanane Fares

Abstract

This comprehensive review delves into fracture characterization in the Ahnet Basin, emphasizing the influence of lithology on natural fracture patterns and their implications for fluid flow dynamics in fractured reservoirs. By amalgamating cutting-edge research and advanced methodologies, the study explores geological structures, fracture properties, and the role of percolation theory in understanding fracture connectivity and permeability. The research highlights the significance of machine learning algorithms in fracture aperture estimation and the consideration of fracture roughness in fluid flow analysis. By investigating the interplay between lithology and fractures, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of fluid flow dynamics in fractured reservoirs, offering valuable insights for optimizing resource utilization and enhancing production performance in hydrocarbon and geothermal reservoirs.

Keywords

Ahen Basint, Fracture characterization, Geology, Algeria, Percolation theory

References

• Aihar, A., Bouabdallah, N., Ifrene, G., Irofti, D., 2023. Comparing Fishbone Drilling and Hydraulic Fracturing in Ultra-Low Permeability Geothermal Reservoirs.
• Angelier, J., Mechler, P., 1997. Sur Une Methode Graphique de Recherche Des Contraintes Principales Egalement Utilisables En Tectonique et En Seismologie: La Methode Des Diedres Droits. Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France S7-XIX (6), 1309-1318. https://doi.org/10.2113/gssgfbull.S7-XIX.6.1309.
• Badsi, M., 1998a. Fracturation Naturelle Des Roches: Application Au Bassin de l’Ahnet (Algérie).
• Badsi, M., 1998b. Natural Fracturing of Rocks: Application to the Ahnet Basin (Algeria); Fracturation Naturelle Des Roches: Application Au Bassin de LAhnet (Algerie).
• Beuf, S., 1971. Gres Du Paleozoıque Inferıeur Au Sahara. Editions Technip.
• Boote, D.R.D., Clark-Lowes, D.D., Traut, M.W., 1998. Palaeozoic Petroleum Systems of North Africa. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 132, 7-68. https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1998.132.01.02.
• Bouchachi, Y., Boukhallat, S., Chegrouche, F., Djaider, Z., 2021. Geomechanical Characterisation of Unconventional Reservoir: 3D Seismic Approach. In Proceedings of the ARMA/DGS/SEG International Geomechanics Symposium, OnePetro, 2021.
• Camac, B.A., Hunt, S.P., Boult, P.J., 2006. Local Rotations in Borehole Breakouts - Observed and Modeled Stress Field Rotations and Their Implications for the Petroleum Industry. International Journal of Geomechanics 6, 399-410. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1532-3641(2006)6:6(399).
• Cherana, A., Aliouane, L., Doghmane, M.Z., Ouadfeul, S.-A., Nabawy, B.S., 2022. Lithofacies Discrimination of the Ordovician Unconventional Gas-Bearing Tight Sandstone Reservoirs Using a Subtractive Fuzzy Clustering Algorithm Applied on the Well Log Data: Illizi Basin, the Algerian Sahara. Journal of African Earth Sciences 196, 104732.
• Doghmane, M.Z., Ouadfeul, S.A., Benaissa, Z., Eladj, S., 2022. Classification of Ordovician Tight Reservoir Facies in Algeria by Using Neuro-Fuzzy Algorithm. In Proceedings of the Artificial Intelligence and Heuristics for Smart Energy Efficiency in Smart Cities: Case Study: Tipasa, Algeria; Springer, 889-895.
• Haddoum, H., Guiraud, R., Moussine-Pouchkine, A., 2001. Hercynian Compressional Deformations of the Ahnet--Mouydir Basin, Algerian Saharan Platform: Far-Field Stress Effects of the Late Palaeozoic Orogeny. Terra Nova 13, 220-226. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3121.2001.00344.x.
• Healy, D., Rizzo, R.E., Cornwell, D.G., Farrell, N.J.C., Watkins, H., Timms, N.E., Gomez-Rivas, E., Smith, M., 2017. FracPaQ: A MATLABTM Toolbox for the Quantification of Fracture Patterns. Journal of Structural Geology 95, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2016.12.003.
• Irofti, D., Ifrene, G.E.H., Pu, H., Djemai, S., 2022. A Multiscale Approach to Investigate Hydraulic Attributes of Natural Fracture Networks in Two Tight Sandstone Fields, Ahnet, Algeria. 56th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, June 2022, p. ARMA-2022-0450. https://doi.org/10.56952/ARMA-2022-0450.
• Ifrene, G.E.H., Irofti, D., Khetib, Y., Rasouli, V., 2022. Shear Waves Anisotropy and Image Logs Integration for Improved Fracture Characterization. In Proceedings of the 56th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, June 2022, p. ARMA-2022-0319. doi: 10.56952/ARMA-2022-0319.
• Ifrene, G., Irofti, D., Ni, R., Egenhoff, S., Pothana, P., 2023a. New Insights in Fracture Porosity Estimation Using Machine Learning and Advanced Logging Tools.
• Irofti, D., Ifrene, G., Cheddad, F.A., Djemai, S., 2023. PS Integrating Borehole Imaging and Full Waveform Dipole Sonic Data to Estimate Fracture Porosity in Tight Formations: A Workflow for Accurate Characterization of Natural Fractures.
• Ifrene, G.E.H., Egenhoff, S., Pothana, P., Nagel, N., Geomechanics, O.F., Li, B., 2023b. High-Resolution Fluid Flow Simulation in X-Crossing Rough Fractures.
• Ifrene, G.E.H., Irofti, D., Khouissat, A., Pothana, P., Aihar, A., Li, B., 2023c. Fracture Roughness Characterization from 360 Unrolled Core Images in a Sandstone Reservoir, Case Study, Algeria, Hassi Messaoud.
• Ifrene, G., Egenhoff, S., Irofti, D., Bittner, N., Newman, T., 2023d. Advancing Our Understanding of Non-Linear Flow Behavior in X-Crossing Fractures through 3D Printing Technology.
• Ifrene, G., Irofti, D., 2023. PS Characterization of Fractured Reservoirs: Mapping Fracture Networks and Linking Fracture Density to Reservoir Properties Using Core and Borehole Image Data a Case Study.
• Irofti, D., Ifrene, G.E.H., Aihar, A., Bouabdallah, N., Khouissat, A., Djemai, S., 2023. Characterization of a Tight Gas Reservoir Using the Integration of Electrofacies and Fracture Aperture, Ahnet, Algeria. 57th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium held in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 25-28 June2023.
• Khetib, Y., Kegang, L., Ellah, G., Ifrene, H., Allam, L., Ling, K., Ifrene, G.E.H., Allam, L., Omar, B., Aoun, A.E., 2023. Experimental and Simulation Investigation of Severe Slug Flow Attenuation Using a Dampening Pipe Volume. Available SSRN 4236231: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4236231 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4236231.
• Khouissat, A., Youcefi, M.R., Ifrene, G., Irofti, D., 2023. Evaluation of Hybrid Prediction Models for Accurate Rate of Penetration (ROP) Prediction in Drilling Operations.
• Latrach, A., 2023. Application of Deep Learning for Predictive Maintenance of Oilfield Equipment. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2306.11040.
• Luthi, S.M., Souhaite, P., 1990. Fracture Apertures from Electrical Borehole Scans. Geophysics 55, 821-833.
• Odling, N.E., Gillespie, P., Bourgine, B., Castaing, C., Chiles, J.P., Christensen, N.P., Fillion, E., Genter, A., Olsen, C., Thrane, L., 1999. Variations in Fracture System Geometry and Their Implications for Fluid Flow in Fractures Hydrocarbon Reservoirs. Petroleum Geoscience 5, 373-384.
• Pothana, P., Ifrene, G., Ling, K., Garcia, F.E., 2023. Investigating Grain Size Influence on the Stress-Dependent Permeability of Porous Rocks Using Particulate Discrete Element Method.
• Pothana, P., Gokapai, V., Ifrene, G., Ling, K., 2023. Effect of Binding Material on the Acoustic, Elastic and Strength Properties of Artificial Granular Rocks.
• Power, W.L., Durham, W.B., 1997. Topography of Natural and Artificial Fractures in Granitic Rocks: Implications for Studies of Rock Friction and Fluid Migration. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 34, 979-989. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1365-1609(97)80007-X.
• Stauffer, D., Aharony, A., 2018. Introduction to Percolation Theory. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, London. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781315274386. Zieliński, M., 2011. Reconstruction of Thermal History of the Ahnet and Mouydir Basins (Southern Algeria).